Buckle.



UNITED STATES PATENT GFFIQEQ.

JOSEPH S. SOUREK, OF BATH TOWNSHIP, SUMMIT COUNTY, OHIO.

BUCKLE.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH S. SOUREK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bath township, in the county of Summitand State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Buckles, of which the following is a specification.

rlhis invention relates to buckles of the general type known as two-part buckles comprising a frame and a bail coperating with and pivoted on said frame for use in connection with a strap.

The object of the invention is to produce a new and improved buckle of the type designated, comprising two parts adapted to be united together when in use and capable of being .separately manufactured, having means for holdingthe fixed and billet ends of the strap.

A further object is to construct a buckle which will be strong, safe, durable in use, easily manufactured and readily set up, composed of two cooperating members, adapted when used in connection with a strap, to be preferably united together' by the fixed end thereof and provided with means for connecting with the fixed end of said strap.

W ith the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts constituting tne invention to be hereinafter specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof wherein is shown the preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrated by way of example in connection .with a strap, but ,it is to be understood that changes, variations and modications can be resorted to which come within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings, in which similar reference numerals indicate like parts in the different figures: Figure l is a plan view of my improved buckle. Fig. 2 is a reverse plan of the same. Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation looking from the bottom of Fig. l. Fig. 4L is a view in front elevation looking from the left in Fig. l; and, Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the device shown in Fig. l, illustrated in connection with a strap.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the reference numeral 1 denotes the frame of the buckle, preferably formed of sheet metal, with lateral portions 2 having downwardlyturned anges 3 for strengthening the gen- Speciication of Letters Patent.

Application filed .Tuly 2, 1908.

Patented Sept. 28, 1909. serial No. 441,620.

is provided .with a forwardly-projecting tongue 9. The lateral portions 2 are provided with recesses l0 oppositely-disposed to each other and in open communication with the slot 7 to constitute bearings for the bail portion of the buckle, to be hereinafter described. The bar 5 is provided with a forwardly-projecting prong ll adapted to be inserted in a suitable aperture in the fixed end of the strap for securing the same to the buckle.

Mounted in the recesses 10 as bearings, is the movable member of the device, hereinafter called the bail, which consists of an open skeleton frame, preferably in the shape of a parallelogram composed of two parallel bars l2 united by substantially parallel transverse bars 13 and 14. The parallel bars l2 are provided with outwardly-projecting lugs l5 arranged to be receivedin the recesses 10 which constitute pivoting means therefor. The width of the bail is less than the distance between the downturned flanges 3, to permit it, when swung upwardly, to lie within the space bounded by said flanges. The corners of the frame are preferably rounded and the forward bar 13 of the bail is also preferably formed upon curvilinear lines in order to present a smooth structure without sharp corners which might injure the user of the same, or have a tendency to tear or wear the fabric or material coming in contact with said buckle or used in connection therewith.

In securing a buckle, constructed as just described, to a strap, the fixed end 1G of the strap 17 is passed upwardly from below through the slot 7 and over the bar 14, permitting the prong 11 to be inserted in a suitable aperture in the fixed end of the strap, thereby retaining the same against being withdrawn from connection with the buckle. The free billet end of the strap is then passed upwardly through the opening in the bail, during which operation the bail is bent downwardly out of contacting engagement with' the under surface of the frame, after which the tongue 9 is inserted in a suitable aperture in the same, thereby securing it against withdrawal.

ln Fig. 5 the billet end of the strap is not shown, for the reason that its presence would tend to conceal the buckle. The eX- treme or free end of the strap, after the tongue S) has been inserted in a suitable aperture therein is then passed downwardly through the slot 8 and caused to lie in lapping engagement with the upper surface of the strap 17 by means of the rear bar 6 of the frame.

The frame l is preferably so constructed that the lateral portions 2 project forwardly so that their outer ends lie in substantially the same transverse plane as the outer end of the tongue E) to constitute guards therefor, especially when the latter is made sharp enough to penetrate the material of the strap, the ends of the lateral portions serving to protect the user of the buckle against accidental injury from the sharp tongue 9, particularly when a buckle of this type is used on suspenders, hose-supporters, etc. where there is liability of the user being injured by having the sharpened tongue project forward from the front portion of the frame of the buckle, which is thus etfectually guarded by said lateral portions of the frame.

in manufacturing a buckle of this description, the frame and bail are made separately, preferably by stamping the same from a suitable material, although the members may be made by other methods, and when so constructed, substantially no fitting required to set up the buckle, the operation of setting up only requiring the insertion of the bail through the slot 7 suiiiciently to cause the laterally-projecting lugs 15 'to be received in the recesses 10 of the frame.

YWhat claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. )i two-part buckle, the frame of which is provided with a tongue on the forward end extending slot terminating in lateral recesthereof projecting forwardly and having a transversely-extending slot terminating in lateral recesses, said frame further provided with a prong projecting' into said slot to engage a strap, and a skeleton bail, the front end of which is adapted to cooperate with said tongue for holding the billet end of a strap, with lateral lugs arranged to pivot in said recesses.

2. A two-part buckle, the frame of which is provided with a tongue on the forward end thereof projecting forwardly, the lateral portions of said frame provided with oppositely-disposed recess-es, a slot in open communication with said recesses extending therebetween, said frame further provided with a prong projecting into said slot to engage a strap, and a skeleton bail provided with lateral lugs arranged to be inserted through said slot, with said lugs pivoted in said recesses, the forward end of said bail adapted to cooperate with said tongue for holding the billet end of a strap.

3. A two-part. buckle, the frame of which is provided with a tongue on the forward end thereof projecting forward sufficiently to extend through an appropriate aperture in a strap, said frame having a transversely- St and a skeleton bail the front cross bar of which is adapted to be swung against the lower face of said tongue when the latter is projected through an aperture in the billet end of a strap without compressing the latter, the rear end of said bail provided with a crossbar extending across said slot, the lateral portions of said bail provided with projecting lugs pivoting in said recesses.

ln testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

Josnrili s. sonneri.

Witnesses GLENARA Fox, C. E. HUMPHREY, 

